During a review of the Finance Bill (2025-26) at the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial suggested a holding period of 12 months to avail tax concessions on investments in Special Convertible Rupee Accounts (SCRAs).

The Chairman of the Finance Committee, Naveed Qamar, expressed concerns that the 'holding period' condition may discourage investment in SCRAs, suggesting a shorter 3-6 months holding period instead.

Chairman Langrial agreed with Qamar's viewpoint and proposed a six-month holding period, which has been discussed with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). If a three-month holding period is considered, it would require approval from the Federal Cabinet.

During the meeting, MNA Mirza Ikhtiar Baig emphasized the importance of safeguarding the interests of overseas Pakistanis investing in SCRAs.

SBP's Executive Director, Muhammad Ali Malik, clarified that the proposed amendment is specific to SCRA and not the Roshan Digital Account. The objective is to deter short-term investments by implementing a one-year holding period to qualify for the concessional tax regime.

SBP's assessment indicates that introducing a one-year holding period would not have an immediate or significant impact on investments in SCRAs.

The finance committee recommended a six-month holding period to benefit from tax concessions on SCRAs investments.